CD vs vinyl

[JRV]

The live "warmth" you mention is added by room acoustics and imperfections in musicians' amplication equipment, if applicable. Arguably, that should be reproduced to the highest degree of accuracy.

But it's pretty hard to make a case that the playback technology should be adding "warmth" of its own. The Holy Grail of audio reproduction is to disappear. Flat frequency response, infinite dynamic range, 0% distortion, "straight wire with gain", etc. Of course, short of directly inducing brain waves somehow, that is unlikely to ever be achieved. But digital is a giant step closer than "warm" vinyl.

The case for "warmth" in sound reproduction is analogous to an art museum deciding to use a lighting color other than the whitest possible light on the theory that it makes the paintings look better.